KokoFlix Videoblog Archive

In this video Koko has just blown a kiss to a caregiver job applicant who was leaving he premises, as Penny enters and asks Koko to demonstrate some of her other pre-fabricated vocalizations. In particular, Penny asks Koko to do her "fake sneeze," which she easily accommodates. Some researchers claim that great apes Read more

Koko likes to experiment with many forms of art and technology. Though she has primarily dabbled in painting (see her amazing representational Gorilla Art) she has recently taken up an interest in music too.
Here Koko tries out a new, flexible, electronic keyboard, and improvises a little tune (music and rhythm) Read more

In this video, Penny play-acts with Koko, asking her to make believe Penny's pen is a microphone. Koko plays along, and after first kissing the "microphone" does a "huff" vocalization, which she often uses when playing with a telephone or microphone. It seems to be her way of imitating talking — which she clearly Read more

This is an excerpt from the introduction to the Meet Koko introduction video. It introduces Project Koko, and features Dr. Penny Patterson, its principle investigator, describing an important insight she gained very shortly after beginning to work with Koko on the first ever interspecies communication study involving Read more

Michael grew up with Koko; they learned sign language together, they both painted beautifully, and they became like brother and sister. But Michael didn't come to live with Koko until he was 3 1/2 years old. As an infant in Africa, he lost his parents at the hands of poachers, in the illegal bushmeat trade, and Read more

Koko blows over a blade of grass that she holds stretched between her two thumbs, to make a whistling sound. Sometimes she produces a nice high-pitched whistling sound, and sometimes she doesn't. Either way, Koko has fun trying. She even signs "good" to indicate she approves of her efforts. How did Koko learn to do a Read more

It's called "cultural transmission" when culturally relevant knowledge is passed from one person to another, or from parent to offspring, or from culture to culture.
Will Koko transmit the sign language she learned from our culture to her baby (if we're fortunate enough to help her have one) — without any Read more

This is a brief introduction to the late silverback gorilla, Michael, who grew up with Koko, learned sign language with Koko, painted with Koko, loved Koko as a sister, and passed away in 2000 at the young age of 27. MIchael's life continues to be an inspiration to us all, and we've even named a sanctuary after him: Read more

One of Koko's caregivers has just had a baby, and has been keeping the baby close to her in a frontal papoose. Koko emulates her caregiver by holding one of her baby dolls close to her chest too. Koko would love to be a gorilla mom, and takes every opportunity to practice, as you never know when the time will Read more

On July 4th, 2008, Koko celebrated her 37th birthday — her 36th with the Gorilla Foundation. Among other birthday surprises, she enjoyed a special birthday lunch, prepared by the staff, but designed by Koko herself (she dictated the menu). In this video you’ll see Koko enjoying some of her favorites from the Read more